Strategery: How George W. Bush Is Defeating Terrorists, ... (ISBN 1596980028)

Like Sitting in the Oval Office:
This is Bill Sammon's third book on the Presidency of George W. Bush. The extraordinary access given to Mr. Sammon is evident in the detail and atmosphere that is consistent throughout this whole series. I am assuming (Always a dangerous thing!) that this access has been provided because the author actually tries to be as objective as possible, a trait sorely missing in the media of today. As this review is written, we are reacting to the discovery of the latest Islamic terror plot to kill thousands of passengers in jumbo jets over the Atlantic. Watching the press and politicians try to spin the story, along with the constant parade of altered 'news' photos from Lebanon, it is refreshing, and critically important, to know that somebody in the media actually sticks to the facts instead of injecting his political and personal prejudices into every word produced. Mr. Sammon sticks to the facts and occasionally asks the hard questions. His unfettered access comes through in the open and easy answers the President provides to his questions. As a self professed "News Junkie", I like to think that I keep myself well informed; but I have learned much from reading this book. Mr. Sammon's "behind the scenes' insight reached it's height in his coverage of election night 2004. The reader will come away with a much clearer understanding of what really happened on Election Day 2004, and well into that night. It seemed that the TV networks had sunk as low as possible in their 2000 Election coverage, but they managed to top their sorry performance in 2004. Throughout the marathon, shamelessly prolonged by the media, Mr. Sammon conveys the evolving situation, from the disastrous, flawed early exit polls, through the state-by-state results trickling in throughout the evening, to the media attempts to influence the results in the 'battleground' state of Ohio. As the events of the night unfold, Mr. Sammon accurately captures the highs and lows of the Bush team as they try to make sense of conflicting and contradictory information. His account of how the President and his inner circle reacted to, and attempted to interpret, what was actually happening, alone makes the book worth reading. This is the third installment of Mr. Sammon's coverage of the Bush Administration, and the three books flow easily, covering the past six years in his easy, readable style. This is no "Puff Piece" about the Bush Era, but a balanced, easily read account of what has happened on the inside. These are difficult times, and it is important that we all stay well informed and involved. This book makes it easier to do so. It will be interesting to see how these books stand the test of time. I'm hopeful that Mr. Sammon will continue his series with the finale.

Childishly Written:
I am a right wing super freak. I have no problems with the facts or views in this book. I do have a problem with the "emotional coloring" by Sammon. It's like he's trying activate certain emotions and attitudes that are childishly simplistic. Right out of the gate we go into the siege of Rove's home by misinformed libby protestors. Rove comes off sounding like a man cowering in a corner while people pound on his windows like a dawn of the dead movie. This book talks down to readers in a condescending way that only small children wouldn't notice and I keep remembering books from my childhood....."see Jane run." Bill....please stop helping my party.

The Real West Wing:
This is an awesome book, I could not put it down. It's like the tv show "The West Wing" but you know it's all real life. Bill Sammon was able to get exclusive behind the sceens access, and see first hand America go to war in Iraq, and a President win re-election and deal with Hurricane Katrina.

Could Not Put It Down!:
This is the finest 'behind the campaign scene' book I've ever read. That goes for fiction and non-fiction alike. The way the Bush/Cheney/Rove/Rice team handle the various media attacks and political roadblocks is astounding. Watching the top American media sources finally implode under the pressure of trying to make a great man look bad is a thing of beauty. Like the majority of my countrymen, I voted for Bush Jr both terms. What I see in Bush is a strong leader who cares about this country. Understanding our need to be in the middle-east, particularly Iraq, is imperative for whomever we elect in '08. I hope they will have read, 'Strategery'.

poof:
Written by a paid administration shill, published by a right-wing vanity press, this weakly researched book had one defining characteristic: It took the side it was made for, blindly. Two years later, the fallacies the book expounded, and those built into the writing itself, have become widely exposed. The result, for a contemporary reader, will be just another expose of an overconfident administration, albeit one that back in 2004-2006 was still yet eager to project itself via any pay-to-write scribe it could get its hands on.